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Baltimore City student stabbed in school dies

Suspect Donte Crawford, 17, already in custody

A 17-year-old who was stabbed by a schoolmate last month in a classroom at Renaissance Academy has died, city police said.

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Baltimore City student stabbed in school dies

Suspect Donte Crawford, 17, already in custody

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Updated: 7:08 PM EST Dec 21, 2015

A 17-year-old who was stabbed by a schoolmate last month in a classroom at Renaissance Academy has died, city police said.Ananias Jolley died at Shock Trauma Sunday night just a few days short of a month after the stabbing.Donte Crawford, 17, of the 800 block of Vine Street, was arrested and charged as an adult with attempted murder in connection with this incident, which took place on Nov. 24.At the time, Jolley's brother said he had stitches in his heart."Right now, he's responding. He can hear you," his brother said on Nov. 25.But at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, police said Jolley died from his injuries. Police said he was stabbed multiple times in the chest and arms."It's an absolute tragedy. We lost one young man to a murder and another young man to the system," Baltimore Police Department media director T.J. Smith said.As for motive, authorities can only say it stemmed from some sort of feud between the boys, who were two of a few hundred students at Renaissance Academy. The west Baltimore school takes in students who have been expelled and looking for a second chance."It's definitely a somber atmosphere, but there's also a lot of love going on up there, too," said Hallie Atwater, with Renaissance Academy.Grief counselors were on hand to help students cope with the loss of Jolley, who 11 News was told was a boy whose last name mirrored his personality.Staff members admit this incident, and now Jolley's death, is a step back in public relations for a school that the city almost closed due to bad behavior and other factors."We're very honest about the way society perceives them, and they consciously try to undo that stereotype," Atwater said. "It just means we're going to work harder, and I think the students would say the same thing."Police said investigators are working with the State's Attorney's Office to file additional charges against the suspect, who is already in custody. Police said Crawford and Jolley had physical and verbal altercations before the stabbing, and investigators believe Crawford planned the attack.It is not clear how Crawford got a knife into a school that has metal detectors.School officials said since the stabbing students are wanded and patted down on the first floor entrance to the building, in addition to the metal detectors on the third floor."So nothing like that can ever happen again and that students and staff get that feeling of safety back," Atwater said."It's a tragedy anytime we have someone killed in an act of violence, even more so when it's a child," police said in a statement. "The fact that it happened inside of a school is even more disturbing. Our thoughts are with the victim's family and the students who had to witness such a horrible event."Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Gregory E. Thornton released the following statement on Jolley's death."On behalf of the entire city schools family, I want to express our deep sorrow on the passing of Ananias Jolley. Although words cannot adequately express our grief over the tragic loss of this young man, we extend our most sincere sympathy and prayers to his family, friends, classmates, and every member of the Renaissance Academy community. We have deployed grief counselors to Renaissance for the remainder of the week to support students and staff, and we are committed to supporting Ananias’ family throughout this extremely difficult period."WBALTV.com editors Saliqa Khan, Ron Snyder and 11 News reporter George Lettis contributed to this story.

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Donte Crawford, 17, of the 800 block of Vine Street, was arrested and charged as an adult with attempted murder in connection with this incident, which took place on Nov. 24.

At the time, Jolley's brother said he had stitches in his heart.

"Right now, he's responding. He can hear you," his brother said on Nov. 25.

But at 7:45 p.m. Sunday, police said Jolley died from his injuries. Police said he was stabbed multiple times in the chest and arms.

"It's an absolute tragedy. We lost one young man to a murder and another young man to the system," Baltimore Police Department media director T.J. Smith said.

As for motive, authorities can only say it stemmed from some sort of feud between the boys, who were two of a few hundred students at Renaissance Academy. The west Baltimore school takes in students who have been expelled and looking for a second chance.

"It's definitely a somber atmosphere, but there's also a lot of love going on up there, too," said Hallie Atwater, with Renaissance Academy.

Grief counselors were on hand to help students cope with the loss of Jolley, who 11 News was told was a boy whose last name mirrored his personality.

Staff members admit this incident, and now Jolley's death, is a step back in public relations for a school that the city almost closed due to bad behavior and other factors.

"We're very honest about the way society perceives them, and they consciously try to undo that stereotype," Atwater said. "It just means we're going to work harder, and I think the students would say the same thing."

Police said investigators are working with the State's Attorney's Office to file additional charges against the suspect, who is already in custody. Police said Crawford and Jolley had physical and verbal altercations before the stabbing, and investigators believe Crawford planned the attack.

It is not clear how Crawford got a knife into a school that has metal detectors.

School officials said since the stabbing students are wanded and patted down on the first floor entrance to the building, in addition to the metal detectors on the third floor.

"So nothing like that can ever happen again and that students and staff get that feeling of safety back," Atwater said.

"It's a tragedy anytime we have someone killed in an act of violence, even more so when it's a child," police said in a statement. "The fact that it happened inside of a school is even more disturbing. Our thoughts are with the victim's family and the students who had to witness such a horrible event."

Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Gregory E. Thornton released the following statement on Jolley's death.

"On behalf of the entire city schools family, I want to express our deep sorrow on the passing of Ananias Jolley. Although words cannot adequately express our grief over the tragic loss of this young man, we extend our most sincere sympathy and prayers to his family, friends, classmates, and every member of the Renaissance Academy community. We have deployed grief counselors to Renaissance for the remainder of the week to support students and staff, and we are committed to supporting Ananias’ family throughout this extremely difficult period."